You know, I’ve thought about this thanks to various different prompts and being a parent. I’ve made lists of books I was introduced to in school that I am glad to have read, and lists of books that have meant a lot to me in my own reading life that I’d want to share. I’ve made lists of age-appropriate books, and I’ve explored the Young Adult genre that has exploded in the last decade or two, but that didn’t exist when I was a kid and teenager. But you know what I’ve come to the conclusion of? There are plenty of books I think would be good for kids to read, and that I’d love to add to the curriculum. But at the end of the day, every kid and teen is different. They all have different concerns, different experiences, different backgrounds and challenges. They have different interests and like different voices and styles. So if it really comes down to it, I just want youth to discover books. Any books. Books that appeal to them, books their friends are reading, books their teachers have in the classroom. Books they see on TikTok. I don’t really care, I just want them to find books they love, and books that will help them want to keep reading. I want them to discover the magic of disappearing in to the perfect book at the perfect time, and the lessons and characters that live between the pages but that can reach beyond them to help you through your own life – whatever you’re going through.
What about you guys? Do you have more specific books you would like young people to read? A topic? Banned books? Where did you go with this week’s prompt?
Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is a blog hop hosted every Wednesday by Long and Short Reviews. The weekly prompts range widely, including both book-related and non-book-related topics. The idea is to get bloggers to interact, share a bit about their lives and connect with other bloggers. Click here for the list of upcoming topics, and visit here to join in the fun!